News Headlines: Loma Linda University Graduate Appointed Florida’s Interim Surgeon General (and More!)
Loma Linda University Graduate Appointed Florida's Interim Surgeon General. Florida Governor Rick Scott has appointed Loma Linda University graduate Dr. Celeste Philip as the state's interim Surgeon General. Philip replaces Dr. John Armstrong, who was the Surgeon General since 2012. The Florida State Senate did not appoint Dr. Armstrong for a second term. Dr. Philip graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Spanish. She later received a Master of Public Health in maternal and child health and a Doctor of Medicine from Loma Linda University. She completed her residency at Florida Hospital in Orlando. From Los Angeles Times, "Dr. Celeste Philip appointed Florida interim Surgeon General." See also: "Dr. Celeste Philip Appointed Deputy Secretary for Health and Deputy State Health Officer for Children's Medical Services" (October 2013).
Former Adventist Employee Converts to Catholicism. Former Seventh-day Adventist member and Adventist history/religion teacher, Michael Martling has converted to Catholicism. "Martling has great knowledge about the Seventh-day Adventist faith and other faiths . . . ," said Deacon Sunday Espinoza, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish RCIA instructor. “The more he studied Catholicism, the more he found answers to his questions and an emptiness in his Seventh-day Adventist faith." From Intermountain Catholic, "Convert from the Seventh-day Adventist Church looks forward to confirmation as a Catholic."
Zambian Government Refunds Christians' Tithe. During a Seventh-day Adventist professions and business meeting at Lutembwe Adventist Church in Chipata, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officer Kafuna Maboshe reminded workers that the Zambian government rewards tithe payers, refunding the tithe paid by those on the "pay as you earn" (PAYE) scheme. He said that workers must produce their pay slips and their church receipts in order to receive their refunds. From Lusa Times, "Christians can get tithe refund from Zambia Revenue Authority ZRA."
Zambia Members Warned Against Partisan Politics at Church Functions. North Zambia Union Conference president Samuel Sinyangwe advised 1,300 church board members at University Seventh-day Adventist Church that it is against church policy for its leaders to engage in partisan politics. Pastor Sinyangwe said if leaders in the church show open support for a particular political party or candidate, they will divide members and fail to carry out their core mission of winning souls for Christ. Leaders engaging in partisan politics will be removed from their positions. From Zambia Daily Mail, "SDA gets tough with partisan members."
Yakima Adventists Provide Free Clinic to Uninsured. A free clinic organized by Yakima, Washington, Seventh-day Adventist churches provided dental, medical, and vision care for more than 400 people, no payment or insurance required. Harry Sharley began organizing the “Impact Your Health” event about five months ago, partnering with a national organization, Adventist Medical Evangelism Network (AMEN). AMEN provided all the dental chairs and tools, along with basic medical equipment, vision screening tools, and free glasses. About 15 dentists and 10 doctors, several therapeutic massage therapists, and vision specialists volunteered. From Yakima Herald, "Seventh-day Adventists Organize Free Health Clinic at Fairgrounds."
Pam Dietrich taught English at Loma Linda Academy for 26 years and served there eight more years as the 7-12 librarian. She lives in Redlands, California.
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